Dog ate bird seed and keeps coughing. When should I see a vet?

She may indeed have a wood chip lodged in her mouth or throat somewhere but since she is drinking and eating without problem I think there may be another cause for the gagging and coughing, Your dog may be suffering from kennel cough or another upper respiratory condition which also causes this kind of coughing and gagging. or she may have an infection in her throat. If the coughing/gagging does not subside by tomorrow take Leica to your vet for an exam.

It sounds like Dove may be coughing instead of attempting to vomit since she was willing and able to eat a treat. Usually dogs who are nauseous are uninterested in food. A cough could be caused by a viral or bacterial infection like kennel cough, allergy related or due to heart disease or pneumonia. I’d recommend having your vet examine Dove to determine whether or not she might be coughing.

I am so sorry about Zelda’s cough. It is possible a piece of bark has become lodged in her throat, or that the chewing merely inflamed her throat causing a cough. I would monitor her closely for the next few hours, offer her only water and keep her calm. If the cough worsens, she seems in pain or distressed I would take her to the vet immediately. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

He likely aspirated some food. If it's just one day of hacking, then it's OK to wait and see if it clears in the next day or two. However, we always worry about aspiration pneumonia, which can be more serious. If the hacking persists for more than two days and is not getting better, then it's best to take him to the vet. If your dog has always done this, then I would not be too worried about a condition causing him to gag when eating. However, if this gagging is recent (within the last year), then I would get him checked-out by a vet. I'm particularly concerned about laryngeal paralysis, which can happen in older dogs and cause them to aspirate their food and water. I hope that helps and Anubis gets better soon.

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. If he inhaled grass blades in his nose, this could contribute to the signs you are seeing. He may also have some grass or another foreign object lodged in his esophagus. I would recommend having a veterinarian take a look at Chuck so that the most appropriate diagnostic and treatment recommendations can be made. I wouldn't wait too long because if there is something stuck and it goes unaddressed, it could potentially become a serious problem. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

It's pretty rare that dogs actually get something stuck in the back of the throat. More likely her throat is irritated, or she has an infection like kennel cough. If the cough continues I'd recommend seeing your veterinarian: while it's difficult to see the very back of a dog's throat without sedation, your vet can help determine what is causing the cough.

There could be several reasons why your dog is [coughing](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/coughing-1/). He could very well have something stuck in his throat or is trying to vomit something up and can't and will need medical intervention. If the symptoms continue, he needs to be seen by a vet as soon as possible. If you know your dog has ingested something and is indeed [choking](https://www.petcoach.co/article/what-to-do-if-you-think-your-dog-is-choking), you can perform the Heimlich maneuver if you feel comfortable doing so. A dog who is choking should also be taken to a veterinarian or emergency clinic immediately. A dog may also be coughing as a result of a viral respiratory infection, like canine parainfluenza, canine adenovirus, or [kennel cough](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/kennel-cough). The most common symptoms of viral infections in dogs can include lethargy, decreased appetite, coughing, exercise intolerance and an increased breathing rate. If you believe your is showing any of these symptoms in addition to coughing, it is important for him to be evaluated by a veterinarian. Finally, a condition known as "reverse sneezing" might also sound like a cough and can be alarming for pet parents to witness. Reverse sneezing is very common in pets and is usually not a cause for concern. When a dog reverse sneezes, it will often pull its head back and inhale forcefully through the nose and mouth, making a cough-like sound. It is thought to have an [allergic](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/canine-allergies/) component as the back portion of the nasal passages work to expel an irritant.